Switch



Oct; 6, 1959 J. LONG E'rAL 2,907,852

SWITCH Filed March 13. 1957 5 Sheets-*Sheet 1 4/ INVENTORSl Oct. 6, 1959J. LONG ErAL 2,907,852

swITcH Filed March 1s, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 2 /7/ l/Af, il

i/ ifi? W VENTR'.

,465' @7* J' Mess.

By n EE@ Oct. 6, 1959 J. LONG TAL l2,907,852

SWITCH Filed March 13, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ENTOKS. 74 s e7' 077g.

les BY "'pbe fray/nafs.

Oct. 6, 1959 J. LoNG r-:rAL 2,907,352

SWITCH Filed March 13, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /y/ /if INVENTORS.

jasper ,6077 casier J'b/ess."

Filed Maron 13, 1957 Oct. 6, 1959 J. LONG ETAL l 2,907,852

SWITCH 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTORS .7255er Aww?,

es er .7.' Hess.

Patented Oct. 6, 1959 SWITCH 'p Jasper Long and Lester J. Hess, Sturgis,Mich., assign'ors to Wade Electric Products C0., Sturgis, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application March 13, 1957, Serial No. 645,782'17 Claims. (Cl.4200'159) This invention relates to relativelysmallrrcombined switch and light-retainer assemblies of the type whichis carried within an aperture in a current-conducting member and whichis adapted for use in the glove compartment of 'motor vehicles.

tAn important object of the invention is to provide an improvedcombination switch and light-retainer assembly consisting of relativelyfew parts which are specially constructed to effect substantialeconomies in manufacturing costs and which may be easily and quicklyassembled on a production basis. Y

-Other important objects of the invention are to provide improved meansto operatively and electrically relate the several parts of the switchand light-retainer assembly so that it is especially rugged inconstruction and reliable in operation; and to provide in an assembly ofthis character a superior combination comprising among other-structure:improved longitudinally movable spring contact means, an improvednonconductive housing construction which is adapted for production bylowcost molding techniques, which incorporates means to guide andsupport said spring contact means preventing buckling of thesame andwhich is arranged to receive and retain a plurality of structurallydifferent terminal contact means, and improved conductive retainer meansin an advantageous snap-on form in relation to said housing whichprovides greater radial resilience without increase in cost topermit-ofgreater tolerances in the forming of the carrying aperture in thecurrent-conducting member through which the retainer means projects.

It is still another object of the invention to provide in combinationwith the foregoing structure improved terminal contact means.

The above and related objects will become apparent during the course ofthe following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

In ther drawings: l

Figure l is an elevational View of the combined switch andlight-retainer assembly embodying the invention shown mounted on acurrent-conducting member;

Fig. 2 is a verticalsection with parts removed, substantially along theline 2 2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section along the line 3 3 of Figs. 8 and 9 are,respectively, vertical and-horizontal` sections taken along the lines 99 and 10 1t)I of FigfS; Figs. l and 11 are, respectively, fragmentarysections of the housing only, substantiallyalong the lines 10-10 and11-11 of Fig. 6; l

Fig. l2 is a fragmentary section ofthe housing substantially along theline 12 12 of Fig. 2;- l

Fig. 13 is a plan View of the blank from which is made one form ofterminal contact means employed in combiand light-retainer assemblyembodying the invention;

only, y y

, nation with the other structure of the combined switch Figs. 14, 15and 16 are, respectively, plan, re-ar and Fig. 13;

Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 13 of another form of terminal contactmeans;

Figs. 18 and 19 are, respectively, side and rear views of the completedterminal contact means of Fig. 17';

Fig. 2O is an elevational view of a switch assembly embodying theinvention shown mounted on a current-con* ducting member;

Fig. 2l is a vertical section of the structure of Fig. 20 substantiallyalong the line 21 21 thereof;

. Fig. 22 is a fragmentary section along the line 22-22 of Fig. 1;

Figs.l23 and 24 are'vertical and horizontal sections along the lines23-23 and 24-24, respectively, of Fig. 21;

' Fig. 25 is a vertical section substantially along the line 25-25 ofFig. l;

Fig. 26 is an elevational view looking at the inside of a modiedconstruction of retainer ring, also showing in dotted lines a prenishedform of the same; and

Figs. 27 and 28 are vertical and horizontal sections taken along thelines 27 27 and 28 28, respectively, of Fig. 26.

Referring now to the drawings, the Ycombined switch and light-retainerassembly embodying the invention is shown in Fig. l mounted incantilever fashion on a current-conducting member 21 which is a part ofthe structure of the glove compartment of a motor vehicle theconstruction of which is conventional and not shown. Thecurrent-conducting member 21 is provided with an opening 23 throughwhich the retainer means, indicated generally at 25, projects and in sodoing resiliently engages the inner surfaces of the opening 23. Thedetails and advantages of the construction of the retainer means 25 willbe described and pointed out more fully hereinafter land it will sufficeto state at this Vpoint that it comprises j a retainer ring, generallydesignated 26, having a body portion 27 from opposite sides of whichproject relatively wide lingers 29 each of which is specially crimped aswill be described and provided with a partially stamped out inwardlyprojecting detent 29a. The retainer ring 26 is permanently assembled byway of its body portion 27 as a unit with a bezel 31 as shown. Thediameter of the bezel 31 and the largest dimension of the body portion27 are larger than the opening 23 so that they are disposed on one sidethereof while the tubular housing, indicated generally at 33, for theother structure of the switch and light-retainer assembly is disposed onthe other side of the opening 23.` The bezel 31 is provided with acentral aperture not shown but which coincides with the central aperture35 (Fig. 7) formed in the body portion 27 of the retainer ring 26. Theswitch button 37 which is actuated by the glove compartment doorprojects through the aperture in the bezel and the aperture 35 into thehousing 33.

The forward end, as at 38, of the housing 33 snaps into the retainerring 26 and in so doing forcefully engages and outwardly expands thefingers 29 which causes them in turn to grip the opening 23 in thecurrent-conducting member 21 with greater force. Movement of the housing33 relative to the retainer ring 26v in a direction opposite to thatvinwhich it .is' 'forced for snap-on engagement is prevented by. theinwardly projecting detents'29a which engage shoulders 39 formed in theexternal surfaces of the housing 33 on opposite sides there- Thelshoulders 39 are best shown in the fragmentary sectional view of thehousing 33 in Fig. 1l and are formed by longitudinally extendingdepressions 41 which The housing 33 is molded preferably from phenolicresin and the depressions 41, as well as the entire internal structureof the housing 33, which will be described in greater detail shortly, iscapable of being formed during the molding operation by longitudinallydisposed core pins which project inwardly from opposite ends of thehousing 33 during its formation and which are removable o utwardlytherefrom at the completion of the molding process. In this waysubstantial economies can be realized in the cost of manufacture of thehousing in contrast I1:0 the housing of prior devices of this character.Before passingr to a description of the interior structure of thehousing 33 it should be noted that the underbody external surface orbottom of the housing is flat, as at 43,

and that a taper is provided inwardly of the forward end 38 by afrusto-conical portion 45 to facilitate entry of the forward end 38between the fingers 29. Also, the outside surfaces of the housing 33have formed thereon at each of the opposite sides of the housingtransversely disposed bosses 47, 49, raised from the normal exteriorsurface and spaced respectively above and below the depressions 41. Thebosses 47, 49 protectively project outwardly of the normal exteriorsurface of the housing 33 slightly more than each finger 29 and arecontiguous with the outer edge of the latter to prevent possibleengagement therewith by any structure of the glove compartment when theassembly is slipped through the opening Z3 for mounting.

The interior structure of the housing 33 which will now be described isintricate but nevertheless is capable of being formed withlongitudinally extending core pins as previously mentioned. The interiorstructure of the housing 33 is divided into a switch chamber, indicatedgenerally at 51, and a light-retainer chamber radially offset oreccentric with respect `to chamber 51, indicated at 53, by an integrallyformed transverse dividing wall S5 which is disposed closer to open end57 opposite the end 38 so that the switch chamber 51 is considerablylonger than the light-retainer chamber 53. The light-retainer chamber 53is adapted to removably retain a conventional light or bulb, indicatedat 59, and to receive a variety of different terminal contact means,such as the two forms shown by way of example in Figs. 13-15, l7-l9, andgenerally designated 61, 63, respectively. The terminal contact means 63is the one shown secured in the housing 33 in Figs. l-6 and the mannerin which it cooperates with the interior structure thereof will bedescribed in greater detail hereinafter and the same will be describedfor the terminal contact means 61.

The switch chamber ,p

51 receives the inner end of the switch button 37 andz construction,having a substantially rectangular shape in cross-section as can be seenby reference to Fig. 6. In the instance shown there are five such ribs,two of which are located at opposite sides of the housing 33 and one islocated at the top thereof, while the other two are each equally spacedbetween the top rib and one of the side ribs. The ribs 69 cooperate withlowermost pair of ribs 67 to cradle the spring contact means 65 in itsmovement within the switch chamber 51. Each of the lowermost pair ofribs 67 has a combination rectangular-triangular shape in cross-sectionas shown and at approximately three-quarters of its length inward fromthe end 38, a 45 step, indicated at 67a, is formed thereon whichprojects toward the vertical axis of the housing 33 and divides each rib67 into a forward and rearward portion 67e, 67b, respectively. Thestructure of each of the pair of ribs 67 is best shown in thefragmentary Sectional Vcompression spring and has the smallest diameter.

view of Fig. 10, by reference to which and to Fig. 6 it will be notedthat the forward portions 67e of the pair of ribs 67 form a cradlesection with the ribs 69 for the spring contact means 65 of greaterdiameter than the cradle section formed by the rearward portions 67b andthe same ribs 69. The purpose of the two different diameter cradlesections will appear shortly. The pair of ribs 67 are raised from thebottom surface of the housing 33 as can be seen in Fig. 6 and formpartial top walls of a slot, indicated generally at 71, which extendslongitudinally the entire length of the housing 33 and which isspecially formed in a manner to be described with shoulders beyond thedividing wall 55 within the light-retainer chamber 53 for securingvarious terminal contact means which are inserted therein, as forexample,

the terminal contact means 61 and 63 previously mentioned. It will benoted by reference to Fig. 6 that the rearward portions 67b of the pairof ribs 67 join the dividing wall 55 at the bottom of opposite sides ofan arch 73 formed therein below a central aperture 74.

The spring contact means 65 is cradled and guided as previouslymentioned by the upper ribs 69 and the lowermost pair of ribs 67 toprevent/buckling of the same in its movement within the switch chamber51. The spring contact means 65 is formed of three portions of differentdiameter, designated respectively 65a, 65b and 65e. The portion 65a isformed of the first few coils at one end of the compression spring andhas the largest diameter.

The portion 65a functions to tiltably and resiliently mount the switchbutton 37 and for this purpose securely eni gages an enlargement 37aformed on the inner end of the switch button. Through this arrangementof mounting for the switch button 37 and by virtue of the substantiallyplanar fulcrum provided therefor by the bezel 31 and the body portion 27of the retainer ring 26, the switch button 37 is actuatablelongitudinally even by an eccentrically applied force which could becreated from misalignment when mounting the completed assembly. Theportion 65C of the spring contact means 65 is formed of a plurality oftightly wound coils at the other end of the The portion 65e is carriedby the aperture 74 in the dividing wall 55 through which it projectsinto the light-retainer chamber 53 to make electrical contact with thebutton 75 on the base 77 of the bulb 59, deflection of the springaccommodating the offset of the two chambers 51 and 53. Mechanically thespring contact means 65 through the portion 65e yieldably urges the bulb59 toward the open end 57 of the housing 33. The portion 65b constitutesthe major portion of the spring contact means 65 and is of intermediatediameter with respect to the diameter of the portions 65a and 65e. Whenthe spring contact means 65 is in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5,an electrical circuit is completed through the same from the button 75of the bulb 59 to the current-conducting member 21 by way of theretainer ring 26 and bezel 31. The largest diameter portion 65a of thespring contact means is supported in this position by the engagingsurfaces on the upper ribs 69 and on the forward portions 67e` of thelowermost pair of ribs 67. Similarly,

*the intermediate diameter portion 65b of the spring contact means issupported by the engaging surfaces on the same upper ribs 69 and on therearward portions 67b of the lowermost pair of ribs 67. When the switchbutton 37 is actuated longitudinally into the switch lchamber 51 againstthe urging of the spring contact means 65, the contact between theretainer ring 26, bezel 31 and the spring contact means 65 is broken,and the electrical circuit opened between the button 75 of the bulb 59and the current-conducting member 21. During movement of the switchbutton 37 the portion 65a of the spring contact means 65 Vis guided andsupported in its movement inwardly of the switch chamber 51 over thelength of its travel on the forward portions 67a` of the lowermost rails67 and the upper ribs 69. Likewise the l respectively.

ascisse `portion 65b is 'compressed during inward movement of the switchbutton 37 and a greater number of its coils vtravel between the rearwardportions 67b of the lowermost pair of ribs 67 and the upper ribs 69where they are guided and supported in their travel..l By virtue of theinterior structure of the switch chamber 51, any tendency for the springcontact means 65 to buckle is minimized.

The interior structure of the light-retainer chamber 53 and the mannerin which it cooperates with various terminal contact means as forexample, terminal contact means 61 and 63, and with the bulb 59 forremovably securing them will now be described. Though it is not soshown, it will be appreciated that the chamber 53 end of the housing 33could be lengthened to completely encase `all metallic current carryingparts disposed within it. The longitudinally extending slot 71,previously mentioned, plays an important part in retaining variousterminal contact means Within the light-retainer chamber 53 and thedetails of its construction can best be seen by reference to Figs. 2, 4and 5 and Fig. 12. The bottom surface of the slot 71 is cut away at theend 57 of the housing 33 and terminates at the wall 79 to accommodate aportion of the insulated lead-in wire 81 secured to the terminal contactmeans 63 as shown in Fig. 5. Inwardly of the wall 79 and still withinthelight-retainer chamber 53 4a shoulder 83 is formed on the bottomsurface of the slot 71 by a recessed portion 85 which extends from theshoulder S3 beneath the dividing wall 55 to the end 3S of the housing 33and is formed centrally of the longitudinal axis thereof. The opposite`side walls of the slot 71 are designated 87, 89, respectively and theyextend without change in dimension from the end 33 of the housing 33beneath the dividing wall 55 to a distance within the light-retainer`chamber 53 determined by the location of the shoulders formed in each asshown in Fig. l2 which are indicated at 91, 93, respectively. Theshoulder 91 is formed by a boss 95 which has the shape as shown andprotrudes from the side wall 87 toward the center of the housing 33while the shoulder 93 is formed by recessing the side wall 89 away fromthe center of the housing 33 as it extends to the end 57 thereof. Theterminal contact means 63 (Figs. 17-19) is secured within thelight-retainer chamber 53 by the shoulders 83 and 93 formed in the slot71. The shoulder 83 engages the edge surface indicated at 97 on thedetent 99 which is partially sheared from the blank (Fig. 17) from whichthe terminal contact meansr 63 is formed. The engagement of the edgesurface 97 with the shoulder 83 after the terminal Contact means 63 isinserted into the light-retainer chamber 53 prevents outward movementthereof toward the open end 57. The shoulder 93 engages the edge surfaceindicated at 161 formed on one side of the terminal contact means 63 andacts as a stop against further movement thereofi'nto the light-retainerchamber 53. The construction of the slot 71 within the light-retainerchamber 53 isv also adapted toV retain the structurally differentterminal contact means 61 shown in Figs. 13-16. For this purpose theshoulders 91, 93

the inner ends 111, 113, respectively, so as to engage one of thecontact bosses as at1 115 formed on the base 77 ,of thebulb 59. Theouter ends of the Vterminal contact means 61, 63 are formed into pairsof tangs 117, 119, drespectively, each of which is adapted to be'. bentover the insulated'lead-in wire to t'rmly grip the same. The

The arcuate edge surfaces 107, 109 facev body portion 27.

end of the lead-in wire may be attened and welded t the terminal contactmeans as shown at 121 in Figs. 4 and 5 for the terminal contact means 63and may be additionally or solely axed by puncturing the insulation andstrands of the lead-in wire as is intended for the terminal contactmeans 61 by means of the partially sheared `spike 123 provided for thispurpose.

The terminal contact means, whether it be of the type exemplied by theterminal contact means 61 or 63 or another type, is inserted into theslot 71 and secured therein, as described, before the bulb 59 isinserted into the light-retainer chamber 53. The interior structure ofthe light-retainer chamber above the slot 71 is specially formed tofacilitate insertion of the bulb 59 and will now be described. Byreference to Fig. 2 it can be seen that the inner wallof thelight-retainer chamber 53 above the slot 71 is substantially cylindricaland has a diameter approximating that of the base 77 for the bulb 59.The bottom portions of this inner wall terminate in inwardly projectinganges 125, 127 which'form partial top Walls for the slot 71 at oppositesides thereof. The anges 125, 127 extend from the dividing wall 55 tothe end 57 of the housing 33. The top surface of the flange 127 isrecessed over a major portion of its length as shown and has formedtherein a side wall of the recess indicated at 129. Another recess as at130 is formed in the inner wall of the light-retainer chamber 53 at theupper left-hand portion thereof as viewed in Fig. 2 and is provided withopposite side walls 13.1, 133,` respectively. The side wa-ll 131 isdisposed diametrically opposite the side wall 129 and the side wall 133is located to the right of the vertical axis of the housing 33 as showna Adistance at least equal to the radius of each of the contact bosses115 on the base 77 of the bulb 59.v To retain the bulb within thelight-retainer chamber 53 the base 77 is inserted into the open end S7with one of the contact bosses 115 thereon disposed within the recess130 adjacent the side wall 131 and with the other contact boss withinthe recess formed in the flange 127 Aadjacent the side wall 129. Thebulb 59 through the button 75 thereon is urged against the springcontact means 65 and simultaneously rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed in Fig. 2 until the one contact boss is disposed adjacent theside wall 133 and the other contact boss is disposed adjacent the sideedge surface 110 on the terminal con tact means 63. Upon release of thebulb 59 it will be prevented from springing out of the light-retainerchamber 53 by engagement of the other contact boss with the arcuate edgesurface 169 on the terminal contact means 63.

The details of the construction of the retainer ring 26 of the retainingmeans 25 can best be described by reference to Figs. 7-9. The retainerring 26 is stamped from a metal blank into a pre-finished `form such asthat shown partially in outline and indicated by the reference letter Ain Fig. 7 from which it can be seen that the relatively wide flattenedlingers 29 are separated from the body portion 27 for a `distanceinwardly from the top and bottom edges thereof to impart greaterresiliency to the fingers 29 for gripping the opening 23 in thecurrent-conducting member 21. From the pre-tinished form, as at A, thefingers 29 are inturned so as to project from the inner face of the bodyportion 27 and bent into the substantially arcuate shape as shown infull lines in Fig. 7. At the same time the partially stamped-out detents29a are forced inwardly toward the center of the inwardly of the detent29a thereon each of the lingers 291is crimped as shown in Fig. 8 atthree separate areas,l a central area indicated at 135 and .top andbottom areas 137. The external surface of each nger 29 is substantiallyflat and tapers' toward the body portion 27 over the area 135 due to thecrimping lthereof as best shown in Fig. 9. At each of the top and bottomareas 137 because of the crimping thereof, the external surface of eachfinger 29 is raised substantially along a transverse line as indicatedat 139 in'Fig. 8 and tapers in opposite directions from each side ofthis line. The crimping along the lines 139 provides portions at the topand bottom of each of the fingers 29 which present the greatest diameterfor resiliently gripping the opening 23 in the current-conducting member21, as is best shown in the fragmentary sectional view of Fig. 3.

In assembling the several parts of the combined switch andlight-retainer assembly embodying the invention, the spring contactmeans 65 is first inserted into the open end 38 of the housing 33. Theswitch button 3/ is then placed with the enlargement 37a thereofdisposed within the portion 65a of the spring contact means 65. Theretaining means 25 consisting of the retainer ring 26 and the bezel 31is then placed over the switch button 37 so that the stem of the switchbutton projects through the opening 35 in the body portion 27 and thecoincident opening in the bezel 31. The retaining means 25 is arrangedwith respect to the housing 33 so that the fingers 29 of the retainerring 26 are disposed on opposite sides of the housing 33 with thedetents 29a therein in line with the shoulders 39 formed on the outsidesurface of the housing 33. The retaining means 25 is then forced intosnap-on engagement with the housing 33 to assume the position as shownin Figs. l and 4. At the opposite end of the housing, i.e., the open end57, the terminal contact means, as for example, terminal contact means63, with the lead-in wire S1 affixed thereto, is inserted into andretained within the slot 71 and thereafter the base 77 of the bulb 59 isinserted into the light-retainer chamber 53 above the slot 71, aspreviously described. The entire assembly is then inserted through theopening 23 in the current-conducting member 21 with the open end 57inserted first together with a short length of the lead-in wire 81 whichhas affixed on the free end thereof a bayonettype connector-contact notshown. When the fingers 29 of the retainer ring 26 engage the innersurfaces of the opening 23, they resiliently grip the same to supportthe assembly as previously described. With the elements of the assemblyin the position shown in the drawings and with the free end of thelead-in wire 81 connected to a voltage source (not shown), the springcontact means 65 and the body portion 27 of the retainer ring 26 are inelectrical connection to complete a circuit from the leadin wire S1through the terminal contact means 63, the base 77 and the filament ofthe bulo 59, the button 75, the spring contact means 65, body portion 27and bezel 31 to the current-conducting member 21 which in the usual caseis grounded as is the opposite side of the source to which the lead-inwire 81 is connected. Upon closure of the glove compartment door, theswitch button 37 is actuated longitudinally of the housing 31 againstthe urging of the spring means 65 to move the portion 65a thereof awayfrom the body portion 27 to break the circuit through the variouselements as previously described.

Referring now to the embodiment of switch assembly and associatedstructure shown in Figs. 20-28, the same is adapted for use in the glovecompartments of motor vehicles in a manner similar to the embodiment ofcombined switch and light-retainer assembly previously described exceptthat the switch assembly of this embodiment is suited for installationswhere it is desirable that the glove compartment light be mounted as aseparate unit and remote from the glove compartment door. In suchinstances the embodiment of switch assembly to be described is mountedfor actuation by the glove compartment door as described for theprevious embodiment but nevertheless controls the off-on condition ofthe glove compartment light through a connecting wiring harness providedfor this purpose.

The switch assembly is shown in Fig. 2O mounted in cantilever fashion asin the previous embodiment on the same current-conducting member 21having the opening 23 through which the retainer means for thisembodiment,

generally designated 101, projects. The retainer means 101 isinterchangeable with the retainer means 25 previously described and in asimilar manner resiliently engages the inner surface of the opening 23.The retainer means .101 comprises a retainer ring indicated generally at103 which is permanently assembled as a unit with the same bezel 31 asbefore described. The construction of the retainer ring 103 is shown ingreater detail in Figs. 2:328 and will be later so described, butbriefly at this point it should be noted that its parts corresponding tothose of the retainer ring 26 are designated as follows: Its bodyportion at 105 and the central aperture therein at 106; its fingers at107 which are substantially W-shaped in this instance to provide greaterradial resilience and which are crimped as will appear; and its inwardlyprojecting detents at 107:1.

The tubular housing for the switch assembly is indicated generally at111 and is disposed on the opposite side of the current-conductingmember 21 from that of the bezel 31 and the body portion 105 of theretainer ring 103. The housing 111 is preferably molded of phenolicresin and as in the previous embodiment is capable of being formedduring the molding operation by longitudinally disposed core pins whichproject inwardly from opposite ends of the housing during its formationand which are removable outwardly therefrom at the completion of themolding process to effect savings in the cost of manufacture thereof aspreviously described. The tapered forward end as at 115 of the housing111 snaps into the retainer ring 163 in a manner substantially as beforedescribed to cause the fingers'107 thereof to expand and grip theopening 23 in the lcurrent-conducting member 21 with increased force.The inwardly projecting detents 107a on the retainer ring 103 cooperatewith shoulders in this instance indicated at- 117 formed in the externalsurfaces of the housing 111 on opposite sides thereof to preventmovement of the housing 111 relative to the retainer ring 103 aspreviously described. The external surface of the housing 111 also hasan enlarged intermediate portion as at 119 formed thereon inwardly ofthe tapered end 115 which terminates short of the rearward end of thehousing. The shoulders 117 on the opposite sides of the housing 111 arebest shown in the sectional view of Fig. 23 and are formed bylongitudinally extending depressions 12?L which are recessed from thenormal exterior surface of the intermediate portion 119. Above and belowcach depression 121 are spaced bosses 123 which are raised from thenormal exterior surface of the intermediate portion 119 for purposes asdescribed in connection with the bosses 47, 49 on the housing 33 of theprevious embodiment.

The interior structure of the housing 111 is simply formed into a singleswitch chamber indicated generally at 125 which extends from the forwardend 115 and terminates at an integrally formed rear wall 127 providedwith a central opening 129. The switch chamber 125 houses a compressionspring, generally designated 131, and receives the inner end of theswitch button 113 by which the make and break of the electrical circuitoccurs.

The coils of the spring 131 decrease in diameter relatively rapidly fromits rearward end to its forward end as shown. The spring 131 encirclespart of the wiring harness for the switch assembly which includes aninsulated conductor indicated generally at 133 which extends through theopening 129 and has one end as at 135 bared and secured as shown to theflattened nose portion 136 of a contact member indicated at 137. Thecontact member 137 has spaced from its nose portion 136 bent-over tangs139 which grip lthe insulation adjacent the end 135 of the conductor133.

The largest diameter end of the spring 131 operates against the rearwall 127 of the housing 111 and the smallest diameter end against thenose portion 136 to yieldably urge the contact member 137 toward theforward end 115 of the housing'111 against the inner end of the switchbutton 113. The inner end of the switch button 113 is provided with aradial enlargement 141 Completely surrounding which and tightly ttedthereto is a conductive securement 143 having a body portion 143a and anannular portion 143b as shown. The portion 143a of the securement 143continually bears against and makes electrical connection with thecontact member 137 during the operation of the switch assembly. Theportion 143b makes and breaks electrical contact with the bezel 31 andthe body portion 105 of the retainer ring 103 accordingly as the switchbutton 113 is actuated by the glove compartment door.

The other end as at 145 of the conductor 133 is secured as shown to aterminal connector-contact, indicated generally at 147, which has theconstruction as shown in the plan and side views thereof in Figs. 20 and24, respectively. The connector-contact 147 is adapted to be insertedinto the mounting structure (not shown) of a remotely positioned glovecompartment light and lto make electrical contact with the base of thesaid light.

When the switch button 113 is in thel position as shown in Figs. 23 and24 an electrical circuit is completed from the base of the glovecompartment light through its filament, the conductor 133, the contactmember 137 to the current-conducting member 21 by way of the conductivesecurement 143 and the body portion 105 of the retainer ring 103 and thebezel 31. When the switch button 113 is actuated longitudinally into theswitch chamber 125 against the urging of the compression spring 131 bythe glove compartment door, the contact between the body portion y105,bezel 31 and the conductive securement 143 is broken and the electricalcircuit opened between the base of the glove compartment light and thecurrent-conducting member 21. During movement of the switch button 113the enlargement 141 thereon is guided and supported through itssecurement 143 by the wall of the switch chamber 125 and the noseportion 136 of the contact member 137 is continually maintained incontact with the body portion 143a of the conductive securement 143 asmentioned.

Referring now to Figs. 25-28 the details of construction of the retainerlring 103 of the retainer means 101 is shown therein. The retainerring`103 is stamped from a metal blank into a prefinished form asdescribed for the retainer ring 26 and which is indicated by the ireference letter B in Fig. 26. The relatively wide W- shaped fingers 107join the body portion 105 by way of a center portion 151 for a shortdistance centrally of the opposite sides of the body portion 105 and areeach formed with slots, one above and one below the portion 151, asshown which separatev a pair of legs 153 from the portion 151. Becausethe fingers 107 are formed with the spaced pair of legs 153 they areeven more resilient than the fingers 29 on the retainer ring 26 forgripping the opening 23. From the prefinished form at B, the centerportion 151 and the legs 153 of each finger 107 are inturned from theinner -face of the body portion 105 and are bent substantially into thearcuate shape as shown in full lines in Fig. 26. At this time thedetents 107a are forced inwardly toward the center of the body portion105 as before described.

Each finger 107 inwardly of the detent 107 thereon is crimped as shownin Fig. 27 somewhat as described iently gripping the opening 23 as bestshowninV Fig. 26 and the fragmentary sectionalv View of Fig. 22. Ifdesired to improve spring action, the section 151 may be formed to taperso that its width increases in an outward direction toward its junctionwith legs 153. In this case the slots between the legs 153 and section151 would get progressively narrower.

In assembling the several parts of the switch assembly shown in Figs.20-28, the compression spring 131 is first inserted into the open end115 of the housing 111. The wiring harness comprising the conductor 133with the contact member 137 alxed at one end and with the other end freeis inserted into the housing 111 through the same open end 115 andthreaded, free end first, through the opening 129 until the contactmember 137 engages the spring 131. The switch 'button "113 is theninserted into the housing with itsenlargement 141 thereof in abuttingengagement with the member 137.

The retainer means 101 consisting lof the retainer ring 103 and thebezel 31 secured as a unit is then placed over ythe switch button 113sothat the stem of the latter pro- .sides of the housing 111. The retainermeans 101 is then forced into snap-on engagement with the housing 111 toassume the position as shown in Figs. 23 and 24. The complete assemblyis then inserted through the opening 23 inthe current-conducting member21 with the rearward end of the housing inserted first together with thefree end of the conductor 133. The free end of the conductor 133 is thensecured to the connector-contact 147 and the latter is inserted into themounting structure for the glove compartment light. The fingers 107 ofthe retainer ring 103 resiliently grip therinner surfaces of the opening23 to support the assembly as before described. Y i

With the elements of the assembly vin the position shown in Figs. 23.and 24 and with the connector-contact 147 in electrical contact with oneend of the filament of the glove compartment light through the basethereof -and withfthe other end of the filament connected to a voltagesource (not shown) the contact memberr137 and the body portion 105 ofthe retainer ring 103 are in electrical connection through theconductive securement 143 to complete a circuit from the voltage sourcethrough the filament of the glove compartment light, the conductor 133,the contact member`A 137, the conductive securement 143, the bodyportion and the bezel 31 to the current-conducting member 21 which isusually grounded as is the opposite side of the voltage source to whichthe filament is connected. Upon closure of the glove compartment door,the switch button^113 is actuated inwardly of the housing 111 againstthe spring 131 to move the conductive securement 143 away from the bodyportion 105 and the bezel `31 to break the circuit through the variouselements de-energizing the glove compartmentv light.

What is claimed is: f 1. In a lcombined switch and light-retainerassembly,

a non-conductive tubular housing, open at opposite ends thereof havingan integrally formed transverse dividing wallraised from the bottomsurfaces of the interior struc- 'ity of circurnferentially spaced ribmembers integrally formed with the interior structureV of said switchchamber `disposed above said slot and extending longitudinally from saidone end inwardly to said dividing wall, said shoulders being disposedwithin said light-retainer chamber and adapted to engage edge surfaceson terminal contact means insertable into said slot from said other end,and said rib members being adapted to guide and support spring contactmeans insertable from said one end and arranged to be movablelongitudinally of said switch chamber.

2. In a combined switch and light-retainer assembly, a non-conductivetubular housing open at opposite ends 'thereof having a transversedividing wall defining a switch chamber opening inwardly from one ofsaid opposite ends, and a plurality of circumferentially'spaced ribmembers .integrally formed with the interior structure of said switchchamber extending longitudinally'from said one end inwardly to saiddividing wall, a lowermost pair of said rib members abruptly changing incross-section over their lengths providing different diameter portionswithin said switch chamber, said rib members being adapted to guide andsupport spring contact means insertable from said one end and arrangedto be movable longitudinally of said switch chamber.

3. In a combined switch and light-retainer assembly, a non-conductivetubular housing open at opposite ends thereof having an integrallyformed transverse dividing wall raised from the bottom surfaces of theinterior structure of said housing defining a light-retainer chamberopening inwardly from one of said opposite ends, a horizontal slotformed on the bottom surfaces of the interior structure of said housingextending longitudinally shoulders formed on the opposite side walls ofsaid slot,

vand a cylindrical inner wall formed integrally with `the interiorstructure of said light-retainer chamber disposed above said slot forreceiving the base of a bulb, said inner wall having recesses formedtherein for accommodating and guiding contact bosses on said lamp base,said shoulders being disposed within said light-retainer chamber andadapted to engage edge surfaces on terminal contact means insertableinto said slot from said one end.

4. In aswitch, the combination comprising a nonconductive tubularhousing open at opposite ends thereof, a switch chamber opening inwardlyfrom one yof said opposite ends, shoulders formed on the exteriorsurface of said housing inwardly from said one end, conductive retainermeans having resilient fingers provided with detents, the insidesurfaces of said iingers embracing in snap-on relation the exteriorsurfaces of said housing at said one end with said detents engaging saidshoulders,

-the outside surfaces of said fingers being crimped to resiliently gripthe inner surfaces of an opening in a currentconducting member forsupporting said tubular housing and having portions partially closingoff the opening in said one end serving as electrical contact means.

5. In a switch assembly, the combination comprising a non-conductivetubular housing open at opposite ends thereof, a switch chamber openinginwardly from one'of said opposite ends, a pair of shoulders formed'- onthe exterior surface of said `housing at opposite sides thereof inwardlyfrom said one end, conductive retainer means comprising a body portionand a pair of resilient fingers Vprojecting from the inner face of saidbody portion, said fingers having detents projecting inwardly toward thecenter axis of said body portion, the inside surfaces of said fingersembracing in snap-on relation the exterior survfaces of said housing atsaid one end with said detents Vengaging said shoulders, means joiningsaid fingers with -said body portion over a portion only of the width ofsaid fingers so that said fingers arev free of said body portion foradistance inwardly of top and bottom sides thereof, said fingers beingcrimped so that the outside surfaces thereof resiliently grip the innersurfaces of an opening :in a-current-conducting member for supportingsaid tubu- ,larhousing, said body portion partially closing voi theopening in saidone end and serving as electrical contact means.

6. In a combined switch and light-retainer assembly, the combinationcomprising a non-conductive tubular housing open at opposite endsthereof having a'transverse dividing wall defining a switch chamberopening inwardly `from one of said opposite ends, shoulders formed onthe exterior surface of said housing, a plurality of circuniferentiallyspaced rib members integrally formed with the interior structure of saidswitch chamber extending longitudinally from said one end inwardly tosaid dividing wall, spring contact means comprising a compression springdisposed within said switch chamber and movable longitudinally therein,said spring having coils engaging said rib members so as to beguided andsupported thereby in its movement within said switch chamber, conductiveretainer means having resilient fingers Vprovided with detents adaptedto snap on said one end with said detents engaging said shoulders `andhaving portions partially closing off the opening in said one end, saidspring means having one end operating against said dividing wall and theother end in electrical connection with said portions of said retainermeans.

7. Ina combined switch and light-retainer assembly, the combinationcomprising a non-conductive tubular housing open at opposite endsthereof having a transverse dividing wall defining a switch chamberopening inwardly from one of said opposite ends, a plurality oflongitudinally extending rib members formed integrally with the interiorstructure of said switch chamber, said vhousing having a pair ofshoulders formed on the exterior surface thereof inwardly from said oneend, radially resilient conductive retaining means having a pair ofdetents secured on said one end of said housing through snap-onengagement between said pair of detents and said shoulders, portions ofsaid retaining means closing off the opening at said one end of saidhousing and provided with an aperture, a non-conductive switch buttonprojecting through said aperture having an enlargement in its inner endwithin said switch chamber, spring contact means comprising acompression spring movable longitudinally in said switch chamber, havingcoils at one end disposed about said enlargement and in electricalconnection with said portions of said retaining means, and having theother end operatively disposed against said dividing wall, said springmeans being guided and supported in its movement within said switchchamber by said rib members.

8. In a combined switch and light-retainer assembly, the combinationcomprising a non-conductive tubular housing open at opposite endsthereof having a transverse dis/iding wall defining a switch chamberopening inwardly from one of said opposite ends, a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced rib members formed integrally with the interiorstructure of said switch chamber extending longitudinally from said oneend inwardly to said dividing wall, a lowermost pair of said rib membersabruptly increasing in cross-section over their lengths providing alarger diameter portion in said switch chamber inwardly from said oneend and a smaller diameter portion inwardly of said larger diameterportion to said dividing wall, conductive retainer means secured on saidone end of said housing having means closing off the opening at said oneend of said housing provided with an aperture, a nonconductive switchbutton projecting through said aperture havingan enlargement in itsinner end within said switch chamber, spring Contact means comprising acompression springmovable 4longitudinally in said switch chamber, saidspring having enlarged diameter coils at one end disposed about saidenlargement in electrical connection with said closing-off means,reduced diameter coils at the other end operatively disposed againstsaid dividing wall, and intermediate diameter coils between said ends,said enlarged diameter coils engaging portions of said rib members`defining said larger diameter portions within said switch chamber, andsaid intermediate diameter coils engaging portions of said rib membersdelining said smaller diameter portions, whereby said spring is guidedand supported in its movement within said switch chamber by said ribmembers.

9. In a switch assembly, ra non-conductive housing, retaining means forthe housing comprising the combination of a retainer ring having a bodyportion, a pair of resilient fingers joining opposite sides of said bodyportion, said lingers being inturned from the inner face of said bodyportion and being bent into a substantially arcuate shape, detentapartially stamped out of said lingers and projecting inwardly toward acenter axis of said body portion, said body portion having arcuate endsdisposed between said lingers, and a bezel having a continuous rimengaged over said arcuate ends, said bezel and said body portion havinga central aperture formed in each, said apertures being disposedconcentrically one with the other.

10. In a switch assembly, a non-conductive housing, retaining means forthe housing comprising the combination of a retainer ring having a bodyportion, a pair of resilient fingers, and integral means joiningopposite sides of said body portion and said lingers for a poruon onlyof the width of said lingers so that said fingers are free of said bodyportion for a distance inwardly of the top and bot-tom sides thereof,said ngers being inturned from the inner face of said body portion andbeing bent into a substantially arcuate shape, detents partially stampedout of said fingers and projecting inwardly toward a center axis of saidbody portion, said lingers being crimped so that the outside surfacesthereof are adapted to resiliently grip the inner surfaces of an openingin a. current-conducting member, said body portion having arcuate endsdisposed between said lingers, and a bezel having a continuous rimengaged over said arcuate ends, said bezel and said body portion havinga central aperture formed in each, said apertures being disposedconcentrically one with the other.

ll. In a combined switch and light-retainer assembly the combinationcomprising a non-conductive tubular housing open at opposite endsthereof having a transverse dividing wall defining a switch chamberopening inwardly from one of said opposite ends and a light-retainerchamber opening inwardly from the other of said opposite ends, shouldersformed on the exterior surface of said housing inwardly from said oneend, a horizontal slot formed on the bottom surfaces of the interiorstructure of light-retainer chamber extending longitudinally inwardlyfrom said other end, a shoulder formed on the bottom surface of saidslot, shoulders formed on the opposite side walls of said slot and acylindrical inner wall formed integrally with the interior structure ofsaid light-retainer chamber disposed above said slot for receiving thebase of a bulb, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rib membersintegrally formed with the interior 'structure of said switch chamberextending longitudinally inwardly from said one end, radially resilientconductive retainer means having detents secured on said one end of saidhousing through snap-on engagement between said detents and saidexterior shoulders, said retainer means having portions closing off theopening at said one end of said housing provided with an aperture, anon-conductive switch button projecting through said aperture with itsinner end movable within said switch chamber, spring contact meanscomprising a compression spring movable longitudinally in said switchchamber having one end tiltably mounting said inner end of said switchbutton and in electrical contact with said portions of said retain-v ingmeans and having the other end operatively disposed against saiddividing wall and extending therethrough, said spring being guided andsupported in its movement Within said switch chamber by said ribmembers, and terminal contact means disposed within said slot havingedge surfaces and being prevented from movement longi- 'Il tudinally ofsaid housing by engagement of said edge surfaces with said shouldersformed in said slot.

12. In a combined switch and light retainer assembly, an elongatedhousing having a longitudinal axis and open at both longitudinal ends,one of said ends comprising a panel attachment end and the other of saidends comprising a bulb receiving end, means on the exterior of saidhousing at said panel attachment end providing d shoulder facing saidbulb receiving end, means inside said housing at said bulb receiving endforming a shoulder facing said panel attachment end, a resilient panelfastener tted over said panel attachment end and having a tongue snappedbehind said first mentioned shoulder to hold said fastener in place onsaid housing, and a bulb retainer at the bulb receiving end of saidhousing having a flexible tongue snapped behind said second mentionedshoulder t0 hold said bulb retainer in said housing.

13. The invention set forth in claim 12 wherein said means providingsaid shoulders comprises slots formed in said housing extendinglongitudinally from the respece tive shoulders to the-end faced by saidrespective shoulders.

1-4. In a switch assembly, a switch housing, said switch housing havinga panel attachment end, said end being conical with the large diameterportion located inwardly from the end, a panel fastener fitted over saidend and secured to the body, said fastener having cantilever flexibleportions in radial alignment lwith said conical portion whereby flexingthereof in a radial direction with respect to the body is provided, thefree ends of said cantilever .portions being located at the smalldiameter end of said conical portion.

15. lIn a bulb retainer, a housing open at one axial end to receive abulb, a radial wall portion in said housing spaced inwardly from saidone end, means providing a longitudinal slot in said housing extendingthrough said wall portion and opening out of the other axial end, theinner end' of said slot forming a shoulder facing said other axial'end,and a resilient retainer disposed in said slot in alignment with saidwall and having a portion thereof snapped over said shoulder wherebysaid retainer is held in said housing.

16. In a combination switch and bulb assembly, an insulative housing,said housing having a first bore opening out of a first end of thehousing, said first bore opening being no smaller than any cross sectionalong the length of the bore, said housing having a second bore openingout of the other end, an integral transverse wall formed in said housingseparating said two bores, said wall having an aperture through it, ametallic member secured to the first end of the housing and closing the,opening of the iirst bore out of said housing, said member having acentral opening substantially smaller than said bore opening, a switchplunger in said rst bore having a portion slidably projecting throughsaid central opening, said plunger carrying a metallic element forelectrical engagement with said metallic member, coil spring meanshaving one end acting against said plunger to yieldably urge saidmetallic element into engagement with'said' member, the other end ofsaid spring means being smaller in diameter than the one end thereof andextending through the aperture in said integral transverse wall, saidsecond bore being adapted to receive a bulb, and means on the housingassociated with the second bore to retain a bulb therein in contact withsaid other end of said spring means.

17. The invention set forth in claim 16 wherein said metallic elementcomprises enlarged coils on said coil spring means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

